In the Arts

Singer-songwriter John Padovano will perform at the coffeehouse at the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch on May 14 at 8 p.m. His show will include folk/blues and jazz/blues songs from his CDs “Cattailsville Ballet (without orchestra),” “The Return of Rainy Day Hobo,” “Innocent Waters” and “The Dusty Road Session.” There is no cover charge at SICA, which is located at 20 Third Ave. For information, call (732) 263-1121.

Three Cunning Linguists , a night of comedy, performance art and poetry with Pandora Scooter, Kelli Dunham and Jeanie Antolini, will be presented at the Black Box May 14 at 8 p.m. The Black Box is located on the third floor at 605 Mattison Ave. in Asbury Park. Tickets are $15 with an advance reservation, $18 at the door. For reservations, call (732) 897-1472.

A stage show and jam session by the Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey will take place May 15, 1-5 p.m., at Embury Methodist Church, Church Street in Little Silver. Five country/ bluegrass/folk bands will perform. Tickets are $5, and $4 for members. For information, call (732) 787-2892 or visit www.newjerseybluegrass.org.

The Monmouth Organ/Keyboard Society will host a dinner and concert Sunday, May 15, at 1 p.m. at Jacques Reception Center, North Middletown. Andy Kasparian will perform at the Hammond “Colonnade.” Reservations, which are required, are $32 and can be made by calling (732) 382-5631.

The Monmouth County Arts Council will hold workshops for the 2006 Local Grant Arts Program for county-based nonprofits that provide residents with high-quality arts programs in dance, music, theater, film, creative writing, multidisciplinary arts and visual arts. The program is highly competitive, and last year MCAC granted $150,000 to 26 groups.

Workshops on grant writing will be held at the Count Basie Theatre rehearsal studio on the second floor at 99 Monmouth St. Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. A long-range planning workshop will be held Wednesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. The deadline for grant applications is Friday, June 24. Grants are given for general operating support, general program support and project support. Grant funds must be matched. For information and eligibility requirements, e-mail mef@monmouthartscouncil.org or call (732) 212-1890.

On Thursday, May 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Pier Village in Long Branch will host “Art Noir, The Black Party: In the Absence of Color,” a cocktail party to benefit SICA. The event is open to the public at McLoone’s Pier House in Pier Village. Attire is artfully black. The donation is $50 per ticket. The event will feature an art auction and silent auction and entertainment by New York’s Jeanne Gies and her Swinging Jazz All-Stars.

Art Noir is sponsored by Applied Development of Hoboken and Pier Village. There will be an after party at the SICA gallery, 20 Third Ave., and shuttle service to the gallery, where “Paint It Black” is on exhibit through June 4.

On Friday, May 20, author Helen Pike will be at Dorn’s Photography Unlimited, 23 Wallace St., Red Bank, for a book signing for her new book, “Asbury Park’s Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort,” published by Rutgers University Press.

Photos from Dorn’s Classic Collection are featured in the 200-page historical narrative, which chronicles four major periods in the city’s history between 1890 and 1980.

The Choraliers of Eatontown will present their annual spring show, “Let’s Go to the Movies!” on Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m. at the Woodmere School on Raleigh Court. Tickets are $6, and $5 for seniors and students. For more information, call (732) 544-1441.